He Yong 何顒

He Yong was a native of Nanyang. He has no biography of his own in Chen Shou's main text, and his name appears a few times in the Annals of Emperor Wu and in the biographies of Yuan Shao, Xun Yu and Xun You. Records, Wei 1 §2Records, Wei 10 §3

From his youth Cao Cao was quick-witted and resourceful in schemes, but he delighted in playing the knight-errant and was dissolute, not attending to his conduct or a livelihood. For this reason people of the time did not think him remarkable, and Chen Shou wrote that only Qiao Xuan of Liang and He Yong of Nanyang saw him as exceptional. Also, when Xun Yu was young, He Yong found him exceptional and said, 'He has the talent to assist a king.' Records, Wei 1 §2Records, Wei 10 §3

When Dong Zhuo summoned Yuan Shao to discuss deposing the emperor and setting up the Prince of Chenliu, Yuan Shao feigned agreement, left and fled to Ji Province. At this time the Palace Attendant Zhou Bi, the Colonel of the City Gates Wu Qiong, the Gentleman Consultant He Yong and others were all renowned scholars who enjoyed Dong Zhuo's trust, but they secretly took Yuan Shao's side. They told Dong Zhuo that deposing and setting up an emperor was not a matter an ordinary man could grasp, and that Yuan Shao, not understanding the larger picture, had merely fled out of fear and had no other intention. Records, Wei 6 §37–38

They went on to say that if Dong Zhuo now offered a reward and pursued him hotly, he would be bound to rise in revolt; that the Yuan clan had bestowed favors for four generations, so that their disciples and former subordinates were spread throughout the realm; and that if heroes rose up on that account, the lands east of the mountains would no longer be his. Better, they said, to pardon Yuan Shao and make him Administrator of a commandery. Dong Zhuo agreed, made Yuan Shao Administrator of Bohai and enfeoffed him as Marquis of Kangxiang. Records, Wei 6 §38

When the troops of the east rose in arms because of Dong Zhuo's disorder, Dong Zhuo moved the capital to Chang'an. Xun You plotted with the Gentlemen Consultant Zheng Tai and He Yong, the Palace Attendant Chong Ji, the Colonel of the Yue Cavalry Wu Qiong and others, saying that Dong Zhuo was more lawless than Jie and Zhou and relied on strong troops but was in truth no more than a common fellow, and that they should stab him to death at once to make amends to the people, then hold Mount Xiao and the Hangu Pass, assist the royal command and issue orders to the realm. Records, Wei 10 §52

When the deed was nearly accomplished it was discovered, and He Yong and Xun You were arrested and thrown into prison. He Yong, in anxiety and fear, took his own life. Xun You spoke, ate and drank as calmly as ever, and was released when Dong Zhuo happened to die. Chen Shou's main text does not record the year of He Yong's death. Records, Wei 10 §53

Chen Shou's main text does not record He Yong's courtesy name, and of his offices it states only Gentleman Consultant. He Yong is not dealt with in the assessments of the Annals of Emperor Wu or of the biographies of Yuan Shao, Xun Yu and Xun You in which he appears either. Records, Wei 6 §37Records, Wei 10 §52